What is Wisdom?
Why and How to define it
Welcome back to Wisdom Now: Why and How! In this column, I usually unpack one psychological tool or theological idea, hoping to share something helpful for living wisely. But as I thought about it, I realized I’ve never actually taken the time to talk about what that goal—wisdom—really means to me. So, today, we’re diving into this somewhat elusive concept and why it’s so important to define wisdom for yourself. Let’s dig in!
WHY
…It’s Important to Define Wisdom for Yourself
Without a clear definition, wisdom can become this vague, feel-good concept that doesn’t really guide us in any meaningful way. Defining wisdom for yourself, however, changes that. It gives clarity to how you approach life and make decisions.
Here’s why it matters:
1. It Gives You a Target
If wisdom is your goal, you need to know what it looks like. A personal definition creates a clear target to aim for, making it easier to measure progress and course-correct when needed.
2. It Keeps Your Values Front and Center
Defining wisdom helps you connect it to your core values. This alignment ensures your actions and decisions reflect what truly matters to you, instead of what’s just convenient or expected.
3. It Helps in Tough Moments
Life isn’t black and white. When you’re faced with difficult decisions or moral gray areas, having a definition of wisdom can act like a compass, helping you navigate thoughtfully.
4. It Grows with You
Your understanding of wisdom can evolve over time, and that’s a good thing. Revisiting and refining your definition allows it to grow alongside you, adapting to the lessons you learn along the way.
HOW
…I personally am defining it
Wisdom is one of those qualities, like leadership or emotional intelligence, that can be defined simply but also needs to be broken into smaller parts to truly understand.
I personally define wisdom as navigating life well with sound decision-making. But making good decisions requires many skills and considerations, and decisions come in many forms: emotional, practical, moral, and relational. Today I want to propose an acronym that encapsulates the key components of wisdom.
I like acronyms. I’ve used them in in past articles because I think they’re a helpful way to organize and remember complex concepts. That said, I’m not 100% set on this one, so please share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love your input!
Here’s what I’ve come up with:
WISDOM
• Wherewithal
• Intentionality
• Self-Awareness
• Discipline
• Open-Mindedness
• Moderation
Wherewithal
If you know me, you’re probably not surprised that my first word choice is a little uncommon. Wherewithal is the ability to resourcefully problem-solve. It’s best summed up by the mindset that “everything is figure-out-able.”
Wherewithal involves knowing what you need, how to get it, and how to adapt when challenges arise. It’s about resourcefulness, creativity, and the ability to leverage knowledge and experience—not talent or luck—to navigate life.
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
—Theodore Roosevelt
Intentionality
When I started imagining this acronym, intentionality had to be on the list. One of the most foolish things we all do is waste precious time—scrolling, gaming, or numbing out on our phones. Intentionality is the opposite of that.
This is the call to take back your time and energy, to live purposefully rather than passively. Intentionality isn’t just about avoiding distractions—it’s about having a clear vision of what you’re working toward and taking deliberate steps to get there.
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
—Oscar Wilde
Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is the foundation of wisdom. How can you make good decisions if you don’t understand your own emotions, motivations, and patterns? Self-awareness involves the courage to examine your life honestly and ask hard questions about yourself.
It’s not always comfortable, but as Socrates famously said:
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Discipline
Discipline is the first half of a powerful duo (we’ll get to the other half soon). With discipline, you take consistent, deliberate action toward your goals, even when it’s difficult.
Discipline involves practicing habits that lead to self-improvement and preparing yourself to respond wisely to life’s challenges. It’s the act of showing up every day for the things that matter most.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
—Will Durant (often attributed to Aristotle)
Open-Mindedness
Wisdom requires humility—the recognition that you don’t know everything. Open-mindedness allows you to keep learning, growing, and refining your beliefs. Open mindedness goes hand in hand with observation (a runner up for the O slot). Staying situationally aware will give you a lot more to go off of when making decisions.
When you close yourself off to new perspectives, you stop growing. Open-mindedness doesn’t mean abandoning conviction; it means staying curious and willing to learn from others, even those you disagree with.
“A mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it isn’t open.”
—Frank Zappa
Moderation
Moderation is the other half of the discipline coin. While discipline pushes us to do what’s beneficial, moderation restrains us from overindulging in what’s harmful, unhelpful, or simply unnecessary.
Moderation helps you find balance in all areas of life—work, relationships, leisure, and personal growth. It’s the art of knowing when enough is enough.
“Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance.”
—Epicurus
Each of these traits contributes to navigating life with sound decision-making, which is at the heart of wisdom. By cultivating wherewithal, intentionality, self-awareness, discipline, open-mindedness, and moderation, we equip ourselves to live thoughtfully and purposefully.
What do you think? Would you add or change anything to make this acronym stronger? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments!
Application
OK, we’ve defined wisdom. Now what? It’s time to make it personal and apply this to your life via reflection questions.
1. What does wisdom mean to you, and how does it show up in the decisions you make every day?
2. Who in your life exemplifies wisdom, and what specific qualities or habits make them stand out?
3. What recent decision felt like a “wise” one, and what made it feel that way?
4. In what areas of your life do you feel you could use more wisdom, and what might help you grow in those areas?
Ok I’m done. Thanks for reading!
SDG